Thomas Tuchel is expected to make several adjustments to his England lineup as the Three Lions prepare to face France in the World Cup 2026 bronze medal match on Saturday.

England will aim to secure third place in the tournament after suffering a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday, with a late goal ending their title hopes.

Back in scorching Miami, Tuchel is set to rotate his squad, balancing the need to manage fatigue with a desire to give opportunities to players who have played supporting roles throughout the competition.

Captain Harry Kane and midfielder Jude Bellingham are both expected to push for starting spots, as each has scored six goals so far and remains in contention for the World Cup Golden Boot. Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi currently top the scoring chart with eight goals apiece.

Reece James picked up an injury during the second half of the Argentina semi-final, which could see Djed Spence slot in on the right side of the defence.

Declan Rice has shown signs of fatigue over the tournament, having also dealt with illness, a calf strain, and persistent neural pain affecting his hamstring and lower back.

The Arsenal midfielder, rarely substituted by club or country, was taken off at half-time in the quarter-final against Norway and again 18 minutes from time against Argentina. Tuchel may opt to rest him for this fixture, opening the door for Manchester United youngster Kobbie Mainoo, who has yet to feature in the tournament.

At centre-back, Tuchel has several options, including Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, John Stones, and Dan Burn, with the possibility of handing Trevoh Chalobah his first World Cup appearance following his late call-up.

Further forward, Eberechi Eze, Marcus Rashford, Ollie Watkins, and Ivan Toney are all eager for more playing time after limited involvement so far.

In goal, Tuchel faces a decision between continuing with first-choice Jordan Pickford or giving either Dean Henderson or James Trafford their first minutes of this World Cup campaign.

Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson remains sidelined after undergoing surgery for a freak arm injury sustained while celebrating England’s victory over Mexico earlier in the tournament.

Reece James remains a doubt for the clash against France as Tuchel finalises his plans for the bronze medal showdown.